Born 13 June 1921 in Slough, Berkshire.

Detail of Chapman’s early life is scant – confusion with several similarly named persons – particularly one from Buckinghamshire – has not helped.

Chapman’s German PoW card states that he was married and describes him as 5ft 11 with fair hair. It gives his occupation as factory hand.

There is a post on the BBC People’s War that appears to relate to Jack and his brother which says that being in the Territorials they were called up on the 1st of September 1939. Jack was initially posted to Northern Ireland before going to France. This is in line with his service number which falls in the middle of the block allocated to the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry before 1942.

It is not clear when Jack Chapman joined the 2nd Devons, it may well have been in the build-up to D Day or, given that the post mentioned above makes no mention of D Day, even as a later re-enforcement.

His brother had been posted to India and fought in Burma.

Their father was a veteran of WW1 – he had joined up aged only 14 and was serving in India on the outbreak of the First World War, whereupon he was immediately redeployed to France. In WW2 he re-enlisted and was employed in guard duties on the Home Front.

[See the Regimental Badge – Devonshire]

The 2nd Devons had been in Malta at the outbreak of war and had been employed in the invasions of Sicily and then the Italian mainland before return to the U.K. in November 1943 to join 50th Division preparing for D Day.

[See the Divisional Badge – 50th Division]

Time in Normandy

The plan on D Day was to land behind the Hampshires and follow through to capture Ryes and the Longues Battery. However, due to the current only C company landed at their appointed place and they found themselves first on their beach. Together with stronger opposition and delay to armoured support objectives were reached much later in the day than planned, and Longues battery was not reached until the 7th. The Battalion then turned Westward towards Bayeux. During the following days, the Battalion fought south. Taking a Chateau to the South of Port-en-Bessin which was a German HQ. Moving south on the 10th they take La Belle Epine on the 11th following fierce fighting.

We know that at this stage the Battalion was rested and reinforced (Blunt amongst others arriving on the 14th).

Chapman’s German PoW card has 10th of July as his date of capture (his note on the shed wall says the 11th). The 9th of July had been the second push to take Hottot, in part to divert from the actions on Hill 112. There was much close order fighting and an incident of friendly fire by Typhoons. The resulting casualties were 1 officer and 9 other ranks killed, 4 officers and 52 other ranks wounded. The Battalion then dug in some 200 yards short of Hottot. On the 11th they came under intense shelling again suffering casualties.